THE GOLD WAVE
The Marathon Project Gold Wave is a premier race experience for the serious amateur runner who trains hard, sets big goals, and wants to run AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. The 2025 Gold Wave winners were Matthew Mulligan (2:19:44) and Catalina Langlois (2:42:43). 84 athletes broke 3:00:00.
Flat, fast criterium style course
Great weather (average high of 68 and low of 45)
Pace groups (in five-minute increments from 2:20:00 to 3:30:00)
Indoor warmup area
No long bathroom lines
No hour-long ride to the start
Start/Finish in the same spot
Bag drop-off at the start
Bag pick-up at the finish
Opportunity to line up just 15 minutes before the start
Plenty of room to run
Two fluid stations per loop
Family/friends can see you up to 12 times in one spot
Best swag bag in the business!
2026 Gold Wave Awards TBD.
GOLD WAVE ATHLETES RECEIVE:
REGISTRATION INFO:
The Marathon Project Gold Wave will consist of up to 400 total participants. Athletes of any age or gender who have run under 3:30:00 for the marathon (or the equivalent at a shorter distance) are encouraged to register.
January 1, 2026 - Registration Opens. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis until the race reaches capacity. SIGN UP TODAY!
Entry Fees:
Early Bird Price $350 (through January 31, 2026)
Regular Price $500 (beginning February 1, 2026)
Refund and Deferral Policy: The Marathon Project 2026 Gold Wave Refund and Deferral Policy: The Marathon Project does not grant refunds. Instead, we offer a graduated deferral policy. Anyone who is already entered and accepted into the race, but can no longer compete for any reason can defer their entry in full to The Marathon Project 2027 by March 31, 2026. Deferrals between April 1 and June 30, 2026 will require an additional $200 in 2027. Deferrals between July 1 and September 30, 2026 will require an additional $300 in 2027. We will not be able to accept deferrals as of October 1, 2026.
FAQ
Why is the entry fee $500?
At The Marathon Project, everyone is a VIP! We understand the desire for athletes of all ability levels to set a PR and we aim to provide all of our participants with that opportunity. Limited fields, indoor warmup areas, pace groups, personal fluids and more provide every Gold Wave competitor with the professional athlete experience. There is a cost to provide all of those things, but we take our responsibility very seriously to make our race worth not only your entry fee, but also all of the hard work you put into training.
Why is the race limited to 400 people?
The Marathon Project is a premier event designed to give each participant the best possible chance to set a PR. As such, we need to give you room to run. The limited field allows for this. Also, our criterium-style course features six loops which means late in the race there will be some lapping. We need to keep that to a minimum for both those doing the lapping and those being lapped.
What is Wild Horse Pass?
Wild Horse Pass is one of Arizona’s premier tourist destinations. Located on the ancient Tribal lands of the Gila River Indian Community, the resort features the Aji Spa, the Kai Restaurant, the Whirlwind Golf Club, the Koli Equestrian Center, the Sheraton Grand and the Gila River Resorts and Casino. For more click HERE.